The OA-8 mission is Orbital ATK’s eighth Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) mission to deliver supplies to the International Space Station, depicted by the shape of the patch being a numeral eight along with the yellow star at the top of the patch. This mission launches on an Antares rocket represented by the red, white and blue trajectory emanating from the Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. The Cygnus spacecraft, with its solar panels deployed, is shown rising into orbit on the top left side of the 8. The space station, where Cygnus will berth and deliver provisions and science experiments to the astronaut crew, is depicted on the top right side of the patch. The Cygnus spacecraft for this mission is named in honor of former astronaut, (TBD), who is represented by the astronaut symbol to the left of the Earth. The name of the program and the customer are featured on the outer ring of the design. This patch was designed by Orbital ATK employees, George Valuikas and Gary Burnside. The name of the spacecraft will be revealed at a press event in mid-October.

Media accreditation is open for the launch of the eighth Orbital ATK cargo resupply flight to the International Space Station from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

Orbital ATK is targeting no earlier than Nov. 10 for the liftoff of its Cygnus spacecraft on an Antares rocket from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport’s Pad-0A.

International media without U.S. citizenship must apply by Wednesday, Oct. 4, for credentials to cover the prelaunch and launch activities at Wallops. The application deadline is Nov. 6 for media who are U.S. citizens. Journalists should send their accreditation request to Keith Koehler at [email protected]

This will be the eighth planned cargo resupply mission by Orbital ATK for NASA under the agency's $1.9 billion Commercial Resupply Services contract with the company. Cargo resupply from U.S. companies ensures a national capability to deliver critical science research to the space station, significantly increasing NASA's ability to conduct new science investigations to the only laboratory in microgravity.

For questions about accreditation or additional information, contact Keith Koehler by email or at 757-824-1579.

To learn more about Orbital ATK, its Antares rocket and the Cygnus cargo carrier, visit:

NASA Offers Access to Cygnus Spacecraft Ahead of Next Space Station Mission

Media are invited to view and photograph Orbital ATK’s Cygnus spacecraft, packed with cargo and scientific experiments for its upcoming flight to the International Space Station, at 10:30 a.m. EDT Wednesday, Oct. 18, at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia.

Media also will have an opportunity to speak with NASA and Orbital ATK officials about the targeted no earlier than Nov. 10 mission and the space agency’s effort to send supplies to the space station using commercial companies. The officials available at the event include:

To attend this event, media must apply for accreditation by contacting Keith Koehler at [email protected] by noon, Tuesday, Oct. 17. Accreditation is open only to media who are U.S. citizens.

Orbital ATK will make its eighth Cygnus cargo delivery to the International Space Station under its commercial resupply services contract with NASA. The resupply mission will launch on the company’s Antares rocket from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport’s Pad 0A at Wallops.

Following the Cygnus viewing, media will have the opportunity to visit the upgraded Wallops Range Control Center.

For more information about Orbital ATK, the Antares rocket and Cygnus spacecraft, visit:

October 18, 2017Orbital ATK, at NASA’s direction, is now targeting November 11 at 7:37 a.m. EST for launch of the OA-8 mission to the International Space Station, based on NASA’s revised ISS traffic planning and cargo needs.

October 18, 2017Orbital ATK, at NASA’s direction, is now targeting November 11 at 7:37 a.m. EST for launch of the OA-8 mission to the International Space Station, based on NASA’s revised ISS traffic planning and cargo needs.

Just been reading about Asgardia in Room magazine (Summer 2017 issue). The satellite is called Asgardia 1 and will be deployed after OA-8 leaves ISS. Asgardia is a "space nation". The cubesat will carry messages and photos from Asgardia citizens. The plan is to create a constellation to help protect against asteroids, solar flares and satellite debris.